A Poem by Kristi Ellis Witt
How I Slice It
The pears on my counter are blushing, ripening. Picking one up, I imagine their journey and all the hands that cradled them before they made their way here
How I Slice It
The pears on my counter are blushing, ripening. Picking one up, I imagine their journey and all the hands that cradled them before they made their way here
Join us for an inspiring afternoon of poetry and song with acclaimed poet and songwriter Michael Riedell at the Visions Art Gallery’s Writer’s Showcase on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m. Located at 500 N. Main Street in Lakeport, this free event invites you to experience Riedell’s captivating work, including selections from his published collections. Enjoy the intimate atmosphere as he shares his literary journey and signs copies of his books. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with a vibrant voice in the North Coast literary community and discover the magic of poetry and song!
Moonrise, Return
You are Sunrise.
Dawn whispering
Against windowshades,
Brushing night from the sky,
Singing Through the End
When two dead languages can meet, they sing. They find, describe, all that’s sweet. They sing. Let’s offer them our lungs, complete the choir.
The Worth of an Ordinary Life
Today we chase a life that seems great
and fear that our own lives are falling behind. We measure ourselves by the lives of others and forget the quiet joy within our own.
Join us for a Writer’s Showcase at Visions Art Gallery on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM! Experience the brilliance of local authors Dan Barth and Hal Zina Bennett as they share captivating poetry and spiritual readings. Engage with the authors, learn about their creative processes, and get your favorite books signed. This free event will be a memorable celebration of literature and artistry!
Everyone has stories worth sharing, and this fall, you can discover your voice in a Creative Writing Course for Older Adults at Mendocino College Lake Center. Join instructor Jonah Wakefield for a 17-week journey that begins on August 19 and meets weekly through December 9, 2026. For just $15, you’ll explore memoir, fiction, poetry, and more in a welcoming environment designed for writers of all levels. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced writer seeking fresh inspiration, this course offers the encouragement and community you need to bring your stories to life.
What Is Joy but Small Kindnesses
I panic-rush with my package from my car to the door only to find that while it’s already 5 o’clock, it’s unlocked.
Chase Me
Chase me into the clouds of sunset
Walk with me into the sky
Shadows Of Moonset
In the shadows of the moonset
When the stars have not yet
Winked themselves to sleep,
In the deep of the pre-dew dawn
While the fairies still dance on toadstools
And coyotes cackle on ridgelines
I walk into depths of pine.
Unexpected Intrusions
The driver behind me slams
on their horn—tires screech.
Cars on either side of us aren’t moving.
Waxing
The waxing moon
Spreads her halo
To the treeline
Encircling the evening star
Join us for a great evening at the Local Writer’s Showcase featuring poet Chris Olander! On Saturday, June 20, at the Silveria Community Building in Lakeport, enjoy Action Art Poetry as Chris combines performance and spoken word. With years of experience as a poet, performer, and teacher, Chris has amazed audiences for many years. Don’t miss the chance to hear from the author of “Who Are We” and former Nevada County poet laureate. This event will celebrate creativity and connection—mark your calendars!
May Drizzle
Raindrops take seven
seconds to disappear
into the concrete,
Moonrise, Return
You are Sunrise.
Dawn whispering
Against windowshades,
Brushing night from the sky,
Take Your Wow With You
Otherwise, you might miss the tiny rainbows
bouncing off the dew drops when the morning
Wet
It’s astonishing, the slipperiness
Of spirit, how August afternoons
Become January mornings
Clouded so thickly a foot could be a mile,
Metamorphosis
after “The Addiction Bird” by Agnes Hanying Ong
We march.
In our black suits draped
in black trenchcoats huddled
under black umbrellas, we climb
toward the sky. In the stormy streaks
of twilight, we ascend the mountain.
Our bootsteps create a heartbeat rhythm
that reverberates through the layers
of metamorphic rock.
February 10th
A good poem doesn’t need to rhyme.
It writes itself quietly and easily
Like the present tense of place, time
And immediacy, for each word allows
Encapsulation
She encapsulates sunrise.
She is a time lapse photo redacted
Minute by minute, reversing
The birth of dawn.
Is This a Cheeseburger?
Is it the paradise
I sang about as a child raised by Parrot Heads?
Best Night of the Year
The moon’s shine off the puddle is my mirror and my reflection sparks a smile.
The eye makeup is just right. Thick black rings how I earned the “bandit” nickname
I’ve come to wear with pride.
The cat knows the rules
about being on counters and tables
but her greatest joy in life
appears to be breaking them
when we aren’t looking.
She leaves traces of evidence
for us to find.
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